State Police charged James Daniel Green, 22, of Charleston, with two counts of imposition of sexual acts on incarcerated persons on Wednesday. He was arraigned in Kanawha County Magistrate Court and released on a $1,000 bail.

This case is the latest involving correctional officers that authorities have investigated in recent months.

Joe DeLong, executive director of the state Regional Jail Authority, said officials would continue to review procedures and training to prevent sexual assaults and other crimes.

In early December, a female inmate told South Central Jail Sgt. J.T. Binion that a correctional officer allegedly sexually assaulted her and her former cellmate in the fall.

The woman previously been been questioned about the assault but was scared to tell the truth, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County.

Binion looked into the allegations and found enough evidence to report it to State Police Trooper J.S. Pauley on Dec. 13, DeLong said.

The woman told Pauley that Green assaulted her during a morning routine called "razors," in which correctional guards give razor blades to privileged inmates and collect them after they shave.

On about Sept. 25, the woman noticed her cell had been unlocked since the previous day's razor procedures. Green, on razor duty both days, entered the woman's cell and stuck his hands down her pants, according to the complaint.

After breakfast, Green came back to the cell and allegedly sexually assaulted her cellmate.

Pauley drove to Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County on Dec. 19, where the other alleged victim is currently incarcerated.

The woman recalled the incident, and said Green entered her cell, stood over her bunk and exposed his penis, Pauley said.

Green then took his hand and pulled the woman's head closer and allegedly asked for oral sex. She was nervous and scared but did as he said, according to the complaint.

He was inside the woman's cell for about 7 to 10 minutes, she said.

On Sunday, Pauley met Green after he clocked in at South Central. He admitted to performing sexual acts on the two women but said both acts were consensual, according to the complaint.

DeLong said Green was fired upon his arrest. If convicted, Green faces five years in prison for each charge. He has a preliminary hearing in Kanawha Magistrate Court on Jan. 17.

DeLong commended Sgt. Binion and other correctional officers for bringing the woman's allegations to light. He said jail officials would review their procedures and training to prevent these types of crimes.

"We have fairly significant training for our officers and we demonstrate a zero tolerance policy for any type of activity between an officer and an inmate," DeLong said.

These assaults anger him and he said he wants the correctional officers who are allegedly involved punished to the fullest.

In October, lawmakers grilled DeLong about a correctional officer accused of sexually assaulting inmates at Southern Regional Jail in May. William Roy Wilson II, 39, was charged with four counts of imposition of sexual acts on persons under supervision. Wilson also faced 11 civil lawsuits targeting his alleged sexual misconduct at the jail, The Associated Press reported.

In November, DeLong said 15 correctional officers at Western Regional Jail in Barboursville were suspended. Some were accused of using excessive force against inmates. Others allegedly brought contraband into the jail.

On Dec. 28, State Police in Doddridge County arrested a former North Central Regional Jail corrections officer accused of having sex with a female prison inmate there. Jerrel Jacob Jones, 19, of Parkersburg, was charged with six counts of imposition of sexual acts on a person incarcerated or under supervision.

DeLong told lawmakers that the Regional Jail Authority wants to install surveillance cameras in the jails to monitor correctional officers, but that it will require a significant investment of funds, the AP reported.Reach Travis Crum at travis.crum@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.